Soldering machine for rope chain

ABSTRACT

An automatic soldering machine for soldering a rope chain comprises a pair of gears, each with a peripheral surface defining a trench which engages one of the strands of the rope chain and which is rotatable to precisely feed and place successive link junctions of the chain relative to hollow solder applying needles. The needles are reciprocally movable and serve to apply a premeasured amount of solder paste at the link junctions of the rope chain. A heater, for example, an induction heater, heats the chain, causing the solder to flow and then set and thereby secure the chain links together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a machine for use inconnection with the fabrication of jewelry, specifically rope chainsand, more particularly relates to an automatic soldering machine forautomatically soldering rope chains.

A rope chain is a chain in the form of a rope constituted by a helicalseries of open rings that arc interlinked with one another to define aconfiguration similar to a continuous double-stranded rope.

Prior machines of the general character indicated are exemplified byTega et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,127,987; Tega, U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,9001, andAllazzetta et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,664. Allazzetta et al. isspecifically directed to a machine by which the fabrication of ropechains is automated. The subject patent notes that linking the openrings found in a rope chain requires great dexterity, manual agility anduninterrupted concentration on the part of the workmen. It further notesthat the production of these chains by hand involves long periods oftime and consequently is very labor-intensive and leads to a highselling price.

The Allazzetta rope chain fabricating machine and, indeed, severalearlier machines have concentrated on automating the process ofassembling and interlinking the open rings of a rope chain, in a mannerwhich imparts to the rope chain its characteristic look. The shape ofthe rope chain is maintained in these machines by reinforcing wireswhich are threaded through the chain.

In the known production process, subsequent to the automatic assemblingof the chain, solder paste is manually applied between pairs of adjacentrings of the rope chain, the chain is heated and the solder sets.Thereafter, the reinforcing wires are removed.

However, the prior art has not tackled the task of automating thesoldering operation which is still carried out by hand. The solderingoperation therefore consumes a long period of time, depends on lessreliable manual labor, and is consequently labor-intensive and morecostly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the general object of the present invention is to provide amachine for soldering a rope chain completely automatically.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a soldering machinefor a rope chain or the like which is effective for applying a preciseand consistent amount of solder paste to the rings of a rope chain.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a rope chainsoldering machine which is effective for applying solder paste atprecisely controlled locations between pairs of rings of a rope chain.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are realizedwith a rope chain soldering machine that is simple in construction,reliable in operation, and effective to fully automate the solderingprocess.

Preferably, the soldering machine of the instant invention includes aworking platform and a chain feeding mechanism for feeding thefully-formed but not yet soldered rope chain from a supply bin below theplatform to a soldering station located above the platform.

The chain is fed by means of a pair of gears each of which is rotatablysupported on a respective shaft and positioned relative to the othergear so that the circumferential peripheral surfaces of the gears engageand hold therebetween the rope chain.

More particularly, the peripheral circumferential surfaces are formedwith gear teeth having a pitch that corresponds to the distance betweencorresponding links or rings in the rope chain. Operationally, the gearsare rotated stepwise and their angular orientation and gear pitch issuch that precise conformance is established between the gear teeth andthe helically oriented individual open links of the rope chain. Eachsequential rotation of the gears is designed to advance the rope chainfrom a previous to a next soldering position on the chain.

After each rotation, first and second solder-applying hollow needlesmove laterally toward the chain and apply to it a specified,predetermined amount of solder paste. The paste is applied ondiametrically opposed sides of the chain, precisely at the junction of apair of links that are at that instant positioned adjacent the hollowneedles.

The process is repeated whereby minute amounts of solder paste aresequentially applied at the junctions between the successively presentedlinks as the rope chain is conveyed past the hollow solder-applyingneedles.

A heater, for example, an induction heater, disposed forward of thehollow needles in the feeding directing of the rope chain, serves toheat the chain to cause the solder to flow and then set and thus jointhe links to one another. Thereafter, the reinforcing wires that areremoved.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention which refers tothe accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the soldering system of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show a rope chain during successive stages of itsfabrication.

FIG. 3(a) is a side view of a chain feeding means for a rope chain inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3(b) is a side view in the direction of lines 3(b) of FIG. 3(a).

FIG. 4(a) is a side view of a chain feeding means for a rope chain inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4(b) is a side view of FIG. 4(a) in the direction of lines 4(b).

FIG. 5 is a side view of a moving mechanism for a solder-applying devicein accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are cross-sections showing details of a portion ofFIG. 5.

FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), 7(c) and 7(d) are cross-sections of a secondembodiment for a needle conveying means, showing successive stages ofoperation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the Figures, the present invention is directed to amechanism for feeding and soldering a rope chain 10 in the form of arope constituted by a helical series of open rings 13 (FIGS. 2(a) and2(b)), in which adjacent rings 13 are interlinked to define aconfiguration similar to a continuous double-stranded rope. Morespecifically, it is comprised of a first, continuous strand of links 21intertwisted with a second continuous strand 23. The rope chain 10 ispreassembled, either manually or automatically, by forming, feeding andinterlinking the rings 13 and the shape thereof is temporarilymaintained by reinforcing wires 11 which are threaded through it.Thereafter, the open rings 13 are soldered to one another and thereinforcing wires 11 are removed, enabling the chain 10 to maintain itscharacteristic rope chain shape.

To that end, a preassembled, unsoldered rope chain 10 (FIG. 2(b)) is fedas shown in FIG. 1(b) to emerge above a platform 12 which supports arope chain feeding mechanism 9 (described below) for feeding andsoldering the rope chain 10. A soldering mechanism 7 which serves toapply dabs of solder paste to the chain 10 is followed by a heatingstation 5 which heats the solder paste, causing it to flow, set, andthus solder the rings 13 to one another.

Specifically, the rope chain feeding mechanism 9 comprises a pair ofgears 14 and 16 supported on and rotatable by respective shafts 15 and17. The gears 14 and 16 are positioned relative to one another in amanner that enables the gears to hold between them the rope chain 10 asshown in FIGS. 3(b) or 4(b).

To enable precise feeding and positioning of successive ring junctions31 and 33 (FIG. 2(b)) of the rope chain 10 relative to the solderingmechanism 7, the peripheral surfaces of the gears 14 and 16 have beenshaped to provide a trench 19 in which gear teeth 18 are formed. Thesize and shape of the trench 19 conforms to the corresponding shape ofthe strands 21 and 23 of the rope chain 10. Further, the spacialorientation of the shafts 15 and 17, and hence of the trenches 19, issuch that the strands 21 and 23 fit snugly in the trenches 19, the gearteeth 18 registering with the link junctions 31, 33, etc.

Each of the gears 14 and 16 is rotated by respective one of the gearboxes 26 and 28 which are in turn driven by a motor 34 under the controlof a motor controller 36. The motor controller 36 energizes the motor 34in discrete sequential steps. This sequentially rotates the gears 14 and16 and serves to rotate and advance the rope chain 10 by the equivalentof one rope chain link, corresponding to the advancement of the gearteeth 18 by one gear tooth.

As can best be appreciated from FIG. 3(b), the gear 14 engages the firststrand 21 of the rope chain 10 with its teeth gear 18 interengaged andregistered with the link junctions 31, 33, etc. thereof. The gear 16, onthe other hand, engages the second strand 23 with its teeth gear 18similarly registering with the link junctions thereof.

As a result, when the gears 14 and 16 are rotated in the direction oftheir respective arrows 44 and 46 by the equivalent of a one gear toothmovement, the link junctions 31 and 33 are sequentially positioned, oneafter another, at a predetermined soldering position 20 (FIG. 1 or FIG.4(b)) which, as will be seen, enables the soldering mechanism 7 to applya minute amount of solder paste at each such link junction 31, 33, etc.

It will be appreciated that, since the rope chain 10 is constituted ofthe twisted pair of continuous strands 21 and 23, as the gears 14 and 16rotate the rope chain 10 is slowly rotated as it advances through thegears 14 and 16.

The feeding mechanism 9 for the rope chain 10 shown in FIG. 1corresponds to the embodiment of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) in which the shafts15 and 17 for the gear 14 and 16 are supported at the horizontallydisposed platform 12. The rope chain 10 is fed through an opening 22 inthe platform 12 from a bin (not shown) from which it is fed to aposition above the platform 12.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) illustrate an alternate embodiment wherein theshafts 15 and 17 of the gears 14 and 16 are supported in a verticallydisposed wall 12'. Operationally, both embodiments provide the samefunction, except possibly that in the FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) embodiment aless cluttered platform 12 is provided.

It is desirable that the gears 14 and 16 be resiliently biased towardone another. This enables the gears 14 and 16 to press on and firmlyhold the rope chain 10 with a desired, predetermined pressure. To thisend and as shown by FIG. 3(b), the shaft 17 of the gear 16 may haveaffixed to it a block 54 which is biased by a spring 56 that is itselfanchored against a fixed brace 58. The gear 16 is thus resiliently urgedtoward the gear 14 by the spring 56. A similar arrangement is alsoprovided for the embodiment of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) (not shown).

After each stepped advancement of the rope chain 10, a first and secondsolder-applying hollow needle 38 and 40 is moved laterally to apply acontrolled, measured amount of solder paste to the rope chain 10, ondiametrically opposed sides thereof and precisely at the link junctions31, 33, etc. that are at that instant positioned at the solderingposition 20 adjacent the hollow needles 38 and 40.

For ease of presentation, the needles 38 and 40 have been drawn in FIG.1 at an exaggerated distance away from the gears 14 and 16. Inactuality, the solder-applying needles 38 and 40 are preferably orientedat a 90° angle relative to the plane of FIG. 3(b), whereby theirrespective needle tips 39 and 41 are able to contact the rope chain atthe solder position 20 (FIG. 4(b)) which is located at or very near thepoint where the chain is engaged by the gears 14 and 16.

With the needles 38 and 40, a first dab of solder is applied at a linkjunction 31 on the first strand 21 and a second dab of solder is appliedto the link junction 31 on the second strand 23.

As feeding of the chain continues, its link junctions 31, 33 will havehad solder applied to them prior to their arrival and passage throughthe heater station 5 which includes a heater, e.g. an induction heater48 and a heater controller 50. At the heater 48 the solder paste iscaused to flow, set and in this manner secure the rings 13 to oneanother. After a desired length of the chain has been processed, it maybe cut away and the reinforcing wires 11 removed to provide a completedrope chain that is ready to have clasps attached to it and to bepolished.

The heater/controller 50 provides electrical power to the heater 48 andmay, if desired, be linked to the motor controller 36 by an electricalline 52 by which it is possible to disable the heater/controller 50 whenthe motor 34 has ceased running, to prevent overheating of the ropechain 10. In addition, an input from the heater controller 50 to themotor controller 36 might be used to disable the motor 34 until suchtime as the heater 48 has reached a predetermined temperature.

The rope chain pulling system 24 comprises pulleys 25, a support 27, aweight 29, and a coupling 35. The lower portion 43 of the coupling 35 isrotatable relative to its upper portion enabling the system 24 to pullthe rope chain and maintain it taut while it is being slowly rotated bythe feeding mechanism 9.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the concept of the soldering station 7and shows a pair of L-shaped brackets 60 which are secured at one endthereof to the platform 12. The solder-applying needles 38 and 40 arecoupled to solder paste reservoirs 62 that are secured to reciprocallymovable blocks 64, which slide on the short arms 66 of the brackets 60in the directions indicated by the arrows 68.

In the more accurately rendered FIGS. 5, 6(a) and 6(b), a firstembodiment of the soldering mechanism 7 (generically depicted in FIG. 1)is shown to include a shell 70 pivotally supported by laterallyextending hinge pins 72 in a stand 74. As seen in FIG. 6(a), the shell70 has an axially extending bore 76 and a threaded opening 78 in which asolder container 80 is threadably secured. An orifice 82 leads from theopening 78 into the bore 76.

The solder-applying needle 38 extends from a rod 84, preferably acylindrical rod that is reciprocally movable within the axial bore 76and which has defined in it an axially extending solder duct 86 which isin communication with the hollow needle 38. A radially extending orifice88 of the solder duct 86 communicates with the orifice 82 of the shell70 when aligned as shown in FIG. 6(b), enabling solder paste to flowfrom the container 80 into the solder duct 86.

At its other end 90, the rod 84 is pivotally connected to a pulley 92,at a position on the pulley 92 eccentric to a pin 94 about which thepulley 92 is rotatably supported on the support 96. As the pulley 92rotates in the direction of the arrow 98 (through a motive powerprovided either from the gear box 28 via a coupling or belt 32 (FIG. 1),or through its own source of motive power, the rod 84 reciprocates in amanner whereby the needle tip 39 traverses the elliptical path 100 (FIG.5), going through points A, B, C, D corresponding to the positions A, B,C, D of the pulley 92. The previously mentioned soldering position 20corresponds to needle position D. Preferably, the coupling 32 and gearbox 28 are configured to synchronize the motions of the gears 14 and 16and the needles 38 and 40, in a manner whereby the needles 38 and 40reach the soldering position 20 immediately after the arrival thereat ofa next link junction 31, 33, etc.

In operation, at the position A the needle tip 39 is moving away fromthe soldering position 20. At position B, the orifices 82 and 88 becomealigned (FIG. 6(b)), enabling solder paste held under pressure in thecontainer 80 to flow into the duct 86 and form a dab of hanging solder102 at the tip 39 of the needle 38. Thereafter, as the pulley 92traverses through the positions C and D, the needle tip 39 traverses apath that enables it to wipe the solder dab 102 against the linkjunction 31, 33, etc., then located at the soldering position 20. Thiscompletes a single solder-applying cycle.

The soldering mechanism of FIGS. 5, 6(a) and 6(b) is repeated for theneedle 40, so that two dabs of solder are simultaneously applied onopposed diametrical sides of the rope chain 10. The amount of solderthat is applied is controlled by controlling the pressure of the solderin the container 80 as well as by controlling the dwell time of thepulley 92 at the position B and by careful selection of thecross-sectional sizes of the solder passageways in the rod 84, theneedle 38, and orifices 82 and 88.

An alternate embodiment for the solder-applying mechanism 7 is shown inFIGS. 7(a)-7(d), which depict sequential stages in the operation of thealternate mechanism. In this embodiment, a modified shell or block 110is horizontally disposed and reciprocally movable in an opening 112provided in a fixed base 114. The block 110 has a rear flange 116 and acompressed spring 118 on its outer circumferential surface which isbiased to urge the flange 116 rearwardly, against a stop 120. A solderchamber 122 in the forward portion of the block 110 communicates withthe threaded opening 124 for the solder container 80 (FIG. 5). The frontend of the solder chamber 122 is bounded by a plug 126 (FIG. 7(b)) whichsupports the hollow needle 38.

At the rear, the block 110 defines a rear chamber 128 in which a solidram rod 130 having a solid needle 132 with a sharp tip 134 isreciprocally arranged. The solid needle 132 slides within a connectingpassageway 136 that connects the rear and the front chambers 122 and 128of the block 110.

In operation, initially, as shown in FIG. 7(a), the rod 130 begins tomove to the right in the direction of the arrow 140 while the block 110remains stationary. This causes the tip 134 of the solid needle 132 toretreat from the entrance point 142 into the hollow needle 38, allowingsolder paste to flow from the container (not shown) via the solderchamber 122 into the needle 38.

In the next step (FIG. 7(c), the ram rod 130 reverses direction asshown, the entrance of the solid needle 132 into the chamber 122 causingsome of the solder paste to issue from the hollow needle 38, creating asolder dab 102 the size of which is determined by the mass size of thesolid needle 132 and the degree of penetration of the tip 134 into thehollow needle 38.

In the final step (FIG. 7(d)), continued forward movement of the rod 130serves to push the entire block 110 forward by a distance "d", in amanner which enables the tip of the needle 38 to reach the solderingposition 20 and apply the solder dab 102 to the rope chain 10.

As noted before, it is possible to control the amount of solder pasteapplied as by controlling the dwell time of the the rod 130 in itsvarious positions, the pressure of the solder paste in the container 80as well by selecting the shape and length of the tip 134 and of thesolid needle 132.

While the invention has been described above with respect to a ropechain, the same is applicable to other chains, for example to chains inwhich rings are packed following one another. Moreover, the concept ofthe invention might be used with only a single toothed gear, using anarrangement where the chain is supported or pressed against a back wall.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A soldering machine for automatically solderinglinks of a chain, in which the links are disposed adjacent one anotherand define link junctions, said machine comprising:feeding means forfeeding the chain in a forward direction and in a manner which placessuccessive ones of said link junctions at a solder position, the feedingmeans comprising at least one rotatable gear which is disposed to engageand advance the links; and soldering means including solder-applyingmeans for applying solder paste to the chain at said link junctions. 2.A soldering machine for automatically soldering links of a chain, inwhich the links are disposed adjacent one another and define linkjunctions, said machine comprising:means for holding the chain inposition for enabling the link junctions to be soldered; solderingmeans, including solder-applying means for applying solder paste to thechain at said link junctions; said solder-applying means including ahollow needle having a needle tip and means for feeding solder pastethrough said needle tip; and means for causing the needle tip totraverse an elliptical path with said needle tip contacting said chainover a portion of said elliptical path.
 3. A soldering machine forautomatically soldering links of a chain, in which the links aredisposed adjacent one another and define link junctions, said machinecomprising:means for holding the chain in position for enabling the linkjunctions to be soldered; soldering means including solder-applyingmeans for applying solder paste to the chain at said link junctions; thesolder-applying means comprising:at least one hollow needle having aneedle tip for applying solder therethrough to said link junctions; ablock with a solder chamber, the needle being in fluid communicationwith the solder chamber; and a solid ram rod having a portion which isreciprocally movable within the solder chamber in a manner which iseffective to dispense from the hollow needle predetermined amounts ofsolder paste.
 4. The soldering machine of claim . .3.!..Iadd.22.Iaddend., wherein each of said gears comprises gear teeth thatare spaced relative to one another at a pitch that matches a pitchassociated with the link junctions.
 5. The soldering machine of claim 4,wherein the chain is a rope chain having at least a pair of strands,each strand comprising adjacently located chain rings.
 6. The solderingmachine of claim 5, wherein each of the gears is constructed toconstantly engage a respective one of the strands.
 7. The solderingmachine of claim 6, wherein the first gear is connected to and isrotatable by a first shaft and the second gear is rotatable by a secondshaft.
 8. The soldering machine of claim 7, further comprising avertically extending platform, said shafts supported at said verticalplatform.
 9. The soldering machine of claim 7, further comprising ahorizontally disposed platform, said gears being secured at saidhorizontally extending platform.
 10. The soldering machine of claim 7,further comprising a heater for heating solder applied by said solderingmeans.
 11. The soldering machine of claim 7, further comprising rotatingmeans for rotating the gears stepwise, each step of rotation having theeffect of rotating the chain through a predetermined angulardisplacement.
 12. The soldering machine of claim 7, further comprisingmeans for urging the gears toward one another.
 13. The soldering machineof claim 4, wherein the solder-applying means includes at least onereciprocally movable hollow needle.
 14. The soldering machine of claim13, further including means for synchronizing the feeding means and thesolder-applying means to one another.
 15. The soldering machine of claim13, the solder-applying means including a rotatable pulley, a pivotablymounted shell, and a rod reciprocally movable through the shell by thepulley, said hollow needle being coupled to said rod.
 16. The solderingmachine of claim 15, further comprising a solder chamber within the rod,a solder paste container supported on the shell and means for conveyingsolder paste from the solder container into the solder chamber.
 17. Thesoldering machine of claim 16, wherein the hollow needle has a needletip and the pulley is effective to cause the needle tip to traverse apredetermined path.
 18. The soldering machine of claim 17, wherein thepath is elliptical.
 19. The soldering machine of claim 4, the solderingmeans comprising a heater.
 20. The soldering machine of claim 4, furthercomprising means for maintaining the chain taut.
 21. The solderingmachine of claim 4, wherein the solder-applying means includes first andsecond reciprocally movable hollow needles.
 22. The soldering machine ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one rotatable gear comprises first andsecond rotatable gears which are disposed to engage and advance thelinks.
 23. The soldering machine of claim 2, wherein the means forcausing the needle tip to traverse a predetermined path includes arotatable pulley, a pivotally mounted shell, and a rod reciprocallymovable through the shell by the pulley, said hollow needle beingcoupled to said rod.
 24. The soldering machine of claim 23, furthercomprising a solder chamber within the rod, a solder paste containersupported on the shell and means for conveying solder paste from thesolder container into the solder chamber.
 25. The soldering machine ofclaim 3, including a fixed base, the block being reciprocally movablewithin the fixed base.
 26. The soldering machine of claim 25, whereinthe solid ram rod comprises a solid needle having a needle tip which isreciprocally movable in the solder chamber to alternatively engage anddisengage the hollow needle. .Iadd.
 27. A soldering method forautomatically soldering links of a chain, in which the links aredisposed adjacent one another and define link junctions, said methodcomprising:feeding the chain with at least one rotatable gear which isdisposed to engage and advance the links of the chain in a forwarddirection and in a manner which places successive ones of said linkjunctions at a solder position; and applying solder paste to the chainat said link junctions. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The method of claim 27,including feeding the chain with and between first and second rotatablegears which are disposed to engage and advance the links..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The method of claim 28, wherein the chain is a ropechain having at least a pair of strands, each strand comprisingadjacently located chain links and wherein each of the gears isconstructed to constantly engage a respective one of the strands..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The method of claim 29, further comprising rotatingthe gears stepwise, each step of rotation having the effect of rotatingthe chain through a predetermined angular displacement..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The method of claim 27, including applying the solderpaste with a needle having a needle tip and causing the needle tip totraverse a predetermined path. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The method of claim31, wherein the predetermined path is elliptical. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. Amethod for automatically soldering links of a chain, in which the linksare disposed adjacent one another and define link junctions, said methodcomprising the steps of:holding the chain in position for enabling thelink junctions to be soldered; applying solder paste to the chain atsaid link junctions, said solder paste being applied by means of ahollow needle having a needle tip and feeding solder paste through thesaid needle tip; and causing the needle tip to traverse an ellipticalpath with said needle tip contacting said chain over a portion of saidelliptical path. .Iaddend.